Platform lifting and carrying arm

ABSTRACT

A platform lifting and carrying arm enables inflatable boats, jet ski and all kinds of cargo to be lifted from sea level and received on vessels. A hydraulic-driven arm system is used to receive cargo from the sea surface or port-coastal areas to the decks of boats. An arm system allows the system to be locked at deck level, regardless of hydraulic pressure, when loaded or unloaded. In this way, it is provided that mechanical lock will be activated with the loss of hydraulic pressure resistance caused by the failure of the hydraulic cylinder.

CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the national phase entry of International Application No. PCT/TR2021/050666, filed on Jun. 28, 2021, which is based upon and claims priority to Turkish Patent Application No. 2020/10212, filed on Jun. 29, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a platform lifting and carrying arm that enables inflatable boats, jet ski and all kinds of cargo to be lifted from sea level and received on vessels.

BACKGROUND

Vessels also carry smaller vessels such as boats, rowboats and jet skis thereon for entertainment and logistics purposes. In addition, many vessels used for military, commercial and civil purposes may need to receive a cargo from the coast, port or sea level.

Rope and tackle systems used in vessels throughout history are still one of the safest systems used for the receiving of sea cargo from the sea. However, even in case of engine failures, manual control and locking can be provided.

SUMMARY

The purpose of this invention is to develop a hydraulic-driven arm system to be used to receive cargo from the sea surface or port-coastal areas to the decks of boats. Another purpose of the invention is to develop an arm system that allows the system to be locked at deck level, regardless of hydraulic pressure, when loaded or unloaded. In this way, it is provided that mechanical lock will be activated with the loss of hydraulic pressure resistance caused by the failure of the hydraulic cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures and related explanations used in order to better explain the platform lifting and carrying arm developed with this invention are as follows.

FIG. 1 is the perspective view of a platform lifting and carrying arm according to the invention when it is in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is the perspective view of a platform lifting and carrying arm according to the invention when its single unit is in the closed position.

FIG. 3 is the side section view of a platform lifting and carrying arm according to the invention when it is in the closed position.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a platform lifting and carrying arm according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is the perspective view of the two platform lifting and carrying arms according to the invention with the platform.

FIG. 6 is the detail perspective view of the gearbox that provides the angular motion of the folding step of a platform lifting and carrying arm according to the invention.

DEFINITIONS OF ELEMENTS FORMING THE INVENTION

In order to better explain the platform lifting and carrying arm developed with this invention, the parts and sections in the figures are numbered, and the equivalent of each number is given below.

-   -   1. Arm     -   2. Platform holder     -   3. Body     -   4. Upper parallel     -   5. Lower parallel     -   6. Intermediate coupling     -   7. Lifting piston     -   8. Angle piston     -   9. Lock     -   10. Platform     -   11. Fixed step     -   12. Folding step     -   13. Gearbox

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The arm (1) subject of the invention, includes a body (3) that allows it to be connected to the boat, and a platform holder (2) that holds the carrying platform (10) in its most basic form. The motions of the platform holder (2) to the boat deck and sea level are provided by the motions of the upper parallel (4) and the lower parallel (5).

In order to be able to take the cargo from sea level or even lower and raise them to the deck level, it is necessary to travel a long distance in the vertical direction proportional to the sizes of the boat. If the cargo to be lifted is a vessel, it is important to be able to lift it without damaging it and by grasping it under the water, and even to cut off its contact with the water when lifted.

For these purposes, the arm (1) will provide a certain height gain to the carrier platform (10) during the opening and closing motions. The motion that enables the platform holder (2) to go up and down at sea level is provided by the lifting piston (7). While the lifting piston (7) is attached to the body (3) on the one hand, on the other hand it pushes and pulls the lower parallel part (5). The lower parallel (5) and the upper parallel (4) are the parts that make the connection between the body (3) and the platform holder (2). Although their shape is like a boomerang, their forms remain parallel to each other during a movement. As a result of the pushing movement of the lifting piston (7), the platform holder (2) lifts up with the pulling movement as it goes down.

The lower parallel (5) is not directly connected to the platform holder (2). The lower parallel (5) and the platform holder (2) are connected to each other by means of a triangular intermediate coupling (6). From the three corners of the intermediate coupling (6),

-   -   one of them is freely attached by means of the shaft to the axis         where the upper parallel (4) is connected to the platform holder         (2),     -   one of them is freely attached with a bolt to the other end of         the lower parallel (5) which is not connected to the body (3),     -   one of them is attached to the other end of the angle piston (8)         that angles the platform holder (2).

The surfaces on which the platform holder (2), the body (3) are attached form perpendicular planes to each other. This is a requirement for continuous maintenance of perpendicularity and for the platform (10) to lift cargos in parallel from sea level. However, it is possible that this perpendicularity cannot be fully protected during movements, and a platform (10) that stands angled to be a ramp to the cargo instead of parallel to the sea for easy receiving from the sea, will facilitate the shipping of vessels.

It is the angle piston (8) that makes the platform holder (2) angular motion and that allows the platform (10) to stand at an angle. The angle piston (8) can be used both to keep the platform (10) parallel to the sea level during the up-down movements of the arm (1), or to act as a ramp as mentioned above, or to ensure the safety of the cargo in rough seas by tilting the cargo towards the deck when it rises to the deck level.

Another element to be used to ensure cargo safety is the lock (9) that prevents the arm (1) from going down with the load weight in case the hydraulic pressure inside the lifting piston (7) decreases. The lock (9) is, on the one hand, a conical component mounted on the outer wall of the vessel in such a way that it can freely move angularly in the vertical plane. The platform holder (2), which has a slot in the same conicity, moves radially and meets the conical lock (9). While the direction of the lock (9) is downward during the first contact with the lock (9), as a result of the radial motion, the direction of the lock (9) becomes parallel to the sea level towards the end of the radial motion.

Since the movement of the cargos on the platform (10) in the direction of gravity cannot cause the conical lock (9) to be released, the lock (9) will never be released. In this way, cargo safety will be ensured even if the decrease in pressure inside the lifting piston (7).

In addition to cargo movements, it is also possible to use the platform (10) carried by the arm (1) as a sitting and sunbathing place at sea level. For this purpose, a fixed step (11) and a folding step (12) will be used for comfortable ascent to the deck level and descent to the platform (10). The fixed step (11) will be able to maintain its position continuously without blocking the descent and lit-off movements of the platform (10). However, since the folding step (12) is affected by the movement of the platform (10), they will come to a position where they cannot prevent the platform (10) by folding through the gearbox (13) that transfers the movement. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An arm, comprising; a body, wherein the body is allowed to be connected to a boat, a platform holder, wherein the platform holder holds a carrying platform, a lifting piston, wherein the lifting piston allows the platform holder to go down and up at sea level, wherein a first end of the lifting piston is attached to the body, and a second end of the lifting piston pushes and pulls a part of a lower parallel, a triangular intermediate coupling, wherein the triangular intermediate coupling allows the lower parallel and the platform holder to connect to each other, wherein a first side of the triangular intermediate coupling is freely attached by a shaft to an axis where an upper parallel is connected to the platform holder, a second side of the triangular intermediate coupling is freely attached with a bolt to an end of the lower parallel, wherein the end of the lower parallel is not connected to the body, and a third side of the triangular intermediate coupling is attached to an end of an angle piston, wherein the angle piston angles the platform holder, and a conical lock, wherein the conical lock is configured to freely move angularly in a vertical plane to an outer wall of a vessel, wherein the platform holder meets by radial motion. 